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Reds ink Wang, nine others to Minors deals

Reds ink Wang, nine others to Minors deals

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By Jenifer Langosch
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MLB.com |

The Reds announced on Friday that they have signed 10 players to Minor League contracts, all of which include invites to Major League Spring Training. The list of invitees includes veteran pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, catcher Corky Miller and outfielder Jason Bourgeois.

Pitchers and catchers will be required to report to Cincinnati's spring complex in Goodyear, Ariz., by Feb. 14. The deadline for position players to report is Feb. 19. The Reds will hold their first full-squad workout that afternoon.

Here is a rundown of this latest group of players the Reds have invited to camp:

• RHP Jose Diaz: He has made a slow climb through the Minors since being signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2001. Diaz, 29, was a member of the Reds' Triple-A bullpen in 2013 and posted a 1.66 ERA in 44 games. He struck out 60, walked 21 and collected 13 saves.

• LHP Lee Hyde: Hyde, 28, pitched in the Reds' system in 2013. He posted a 2.28 ERA in 42 Double-A appearances and did not allow a run in 13 games at the Triple-A level.

• RHP Wang: He made his Major League debut with the Yankees in 2005 and went on to win 19 games in each of the next two seasons. A right foot injury ended his '08 season in June, and Wang was then limited to 12 appearances in '09 due to hip and shoulder injuries. He eventually underwent season-ending surgery on his right shoulder and spent all of the 2010 season recovering from it.

The Taiwanese right-hander has struggled to stick on a big league roster since returning in 2011. Over the last three seasons, Wang has made a combined 27 appearances (22 starts) for the Nationals and Blue Jays. He began 2013 in the Yankees' organization, was released in June and then went 1-2 with a 7.67 ERA in six starts for the Blue Jays. Wang, who turns 34 in March, did put up decent numbers in Triple-A last season. He finished 8-7 with a 2.87 ERA in 18 appearances (17 starts).

According to the Focus Taiwan News Channel, Wang will earn a base salary of $1.25 million if he makes the Major League roster and will have the opportunity to make another $1.75 through incentives.

• C Miller: The 37-year-old has been with the organization since 2009 and has re-signed after becoming a free agent at season's end. While he has played primarily with the Reds' Triple-A affiliate in Louisville, Miller did enjoy three separate stints with the big-league club last season.

Miller hit .257 and had a .366 on-base percentage in 17 games with the Reds last season. He was also with the Reds at the start of his Major League career from 2001-04.

• C Rossmel Perez: The left-handed-hitting Perez joins the Reds' organization after playing eight seasons in the D-backs' farm system. Perez, 24, has climbed as high as Double-A. In 2013, he hit .245 with a .315 on-base percentage in 74 games.

• C Max Ramirez: The 29-year-old backstop gained limited Major League exposure in 2008 and '10 while with the Rangers. Most recently, he was with the Royals and played for their Triple-A affiliate in '12 and '13. He hit .263 with 19 doubles, nine homers and 55 RBIs in 115 Triple-A games last season.

• INF Argenis Diaz: Since logging big league time with the Pirates in 2010, Diaz has been playing in Triple-A. The 26-year-old plays primarily at shortstop, but also has second- and third-base experience. In 2013, his third straight season on Detroit's Triple-A roster, Diaz batted .255.

• INF Reynaldo Navarro: The 23-year-old infielder has showcased versatility throughout his Minor League climb. He can play short, second and third, though most of his innings have come as a middle infielder. Navarro has been in the Royals' organization for the last three seasons and played for Kansas City's Double-A affiliate in 2013. He hit .283 in 119 games.

• INF Kristopher Negron: The 27-year-old briefly appeared with the Reds in 2012 and has now re-signed after spending 2013 in Triple-A. Negron batted .225 with a .295 on-base percentage in 116 games with Louisville last season. He was used primarily at shortstop but appeared at least once at every position besides catcher and pitcher.

• OF Bourgeois: The 31-year-old has spent time on a Major League roster in each of the past six seasons. He has bounced around from the White Sox to the Brewers to the Astros to the Royals to the Rays during that span. In 231 big-league games, Bourgeois has a .259 batting average and a .305 on-base percentage. He has played at all three outfield spots.

Bourgeois spent the bulk of 2013 in Triple-A, where he batted .290 in 90 games. He drove in 61 runs and stole 22 bases.